Oh, for the warmer times

The empty boat slips in the Onondaga Lake Marina isn’t the only place I walk past in Liverpool that makes me think of warmer times. Yes, I like eating on the patio of the Retreat come spring and summer. They do the best they can to make it look good in winter for those spectating.

Sounds like a plan

The latest round of flags are up in the Village of Liverpool. I take note as I take a morning break stroll from my job at the library, and I do know the window to the left has held one of the many hairstyling establishments that dot First Street. The red flag at the corner…

Moon was just right there

When I let cherished rescue mutt Ellie B out the door to do her thing, I noticed out of my side eye a hazy early morning moon hanging out just before the sunrise. I ran back in to grab my iPhone 8 from the living room table. Alas, too slow. You can barely see its…

Keeping the air flowing

By shovel, by foot stomp, every time I pass by these pipes I make sure the path is clear. I learned the hard way our first winter here that they lead to our furnace. If the air flow gets blocked, it’s as if the heater can’t breathe, and down drops the house temperatures.

Now I’m talking garbage

Sometimes the winter and my need to get the car as close as possible for possible plowing makes the art of taking out the garbage and recyclables a bit of a tight squeeze. My job to haul them out to the curb, so no complaints here. My dear wife Karen, when she drops stuff out…

Thank you for the driveway work

Earlier this winter I thought that maybe I’d made a bad call when I’d decided for the whole-season option and sent our plowing company the check to cover our driveway needs through winter. OK, maybe we still would have come out better if I’d checked the pay-per-plow box. But I still feel pretty good when…

Not firing up that grill

I hear that some people grill year round. Yes, even some people who live in my part of the world. No, thank you. Our kitchen stove works great! (Knock on wood.) We’re lucky enough to live pretty close to the Limp Lizard, the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and even a stone’s throw to Ray Brothers, all home…

Paw prints prove she was there

Cherished rescue mutt Ellie B doesn’t spend quite so much time hanging out on her favorite side alcove futon during the yeah-it’s-really-winter cold. But her paw prints prove she goes in and out that door to make her way to the needed beyond.